The windshield wipers don’t get nearly as much attention as the engine, brakes, or transmission, but they’re just as important when it’s raining or snowing out. So if your wipers aren’t working correctly, it’s cause for concern. The good news is that there are a limited number of causes here, and most of the issues can be fixed for extremely cheap. You can even make a few of these repairs yourself. In this article, we’ll break down what might cause your wipers to stop working correctly and what you can do to repair them.
This article is based on an interview with our automotive specialist, Ed Beery, owner of InTechgrity Automotive Excellence. Check out the full interview here.
Things You Should Know
- Torn wiper blades are the most common cause of wipers not working. Replacing the blades is easy and cheap, though!
- If the wipers aren’t turning on, it could be a blown fuse, bad motor, or broken wiper controls. Extreme weather, loose pivot nuts, and freezing temperatures can keep wiper blades from engaging.
- While dysfunctional wipers aren’t an emergency per se, get this fixed soon so you don't run into visibility issues on the road.
Steps
Expert Q&A
Tips
- Always turn your wipers off before you shut the vehicle off. If you don’t, your wipers will kick on the next time you start your car. If it’s below freezing or there’s no rain when you do this, the wipers will rub against the windshield without anything to lubricate the blades, which can tear them.Thanks
References
- ↑ https://www.kbb.com/service-repair-guide/windshield-wiper-blade-replacement-costs/
- ↑ https://grimmermotors.co.nz/car-wiper-switch-hamilton/
- ↑ https://uk.rs-online.com/web/content/discovery/ideas-and-advice/car-fuses-guide
- ↑ https://www.customcompleteautomotive.com/blog/5-signs-of-a-failing-windshield-wiper-motor
- ↑ https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/ford-recall-truck-suv-windshield-wiper-arm-broken/
- ↑ https://www.mightyautoparts.com/wipers/winter-wiper-dos-and-donts/
- ↑ https://controlconnections.com.au/5-common-window-wiper-problems-and-how-to-solve-them/